Expanding care

-- Southeast Missouri Hospital's Regional Cancer Center

In January 2009, Southeast broke ground on a new, patient-centered $33 million Regional Cancer Center, one of the largest building projects in the hospital's history. The new 49,200-square-foot center will be located on the hospital's new West Campus on South Mount Auburn Road in Cape Girardeau, and is scheduled to open in December 2010.

-- New Pediatrics Unit, Expanded OB at Southeast Missouri Hospital

The expanded OB unit at Southeast now has 25 OB suites with top-of-the-line amenities. The new, light and bright Pediatrics Unit on the hospital's first floor has eight private rooms, all of which can be transformed into a Peds Special Care Unit in a matter of minutes. Each Peds room has a 32-inch flat screen TV with a VCR and DVD player, along with a Play Station 2 game system. The unit also features a unique play room with fiber optic ceiling lights.

-- Improved Emergency Services at Southeast

The improvements to Southeast's Emergency Services included the renovation of 6,300 square feet as well as a 3,000 square foot expansion to bring the total number of treatment rooms to 25.

Other ER improvements include additional outpatient registration areas, three waiting areas, an expanded triage area and dedicated psych services exam rooms. There is a fully integrated digital Radiology area as well as a new, full-service Emergency Services Lab. Emergency Services also has implemented an electronic medical records system to further improve and streamline healthcare services.

-- Expanded GI Lab at Southeast

The first phase has been completed on expansion of the GI Lab with the second phase scheduled for completion in January at Southeast Missouri Hospital. When finished the hospital's Endoscopy Services Department will be housed in 8,278 square feet on the first floor of the hospital. Currently, there are two large procedure rooms equipped with the newest state-of-the-art technology. Another two are being added in the second phase. Endoscopy Services has 12 pre-op/recovery rooms (more than double the previous number) which provide privacy for patients when preparing for and recovering from endoscopy procedures. The recent construction project included a new waiting room with spa-like decor. The full-service department handles everything on site from patient registration to post-op care.

-- Southeast Regional Medical Complex

The Southeast Regional Medical Complex, the hospital's newest medical office building, recently opened at 817 S. Mount Auburn Road, adjacent to the new Regional Cancer Center now under construction. Plaza Primary Care West ? a comprehensive, family healthcare medical practice ? has opened its doors in the Southeast Regional Medical Complex.

-- HealthPoint Fitness - Jackson

HealthPoint Fitness in Jackson recently completed major improvements, adding 3,600 square feet of additional fitness space through interior changes. Improvements include a larger free-weight area, a new cycle room and more than 20 new cardio machines as well as other upgrades.

Heart Hospital and Cancer Institute at Saint Francis Medical Center

Construction of the four-story, 208,000-square-foot Heart Hospital and Cancer Institute at Saint Francis is the largest community construction investment made in Cape Girardeau in the last five years. The $84 million project is scheduled to open in 2011.

As the first phase of the project, the garage includes 700 new parking spaces now being used by employees. The garage will attach to the new hospital when the entire project is complete.

The entire facility will include all private rooms, 10 additional intensive care beds, four catherization labs and an additional electrophysiology lab for heart patients. The Cancer Institute will house a flexible chemotherapy/infusion center with additional treatment alcoves as part of the comprehensive continuum of care for heart and cancer patients at Saint Francis.

Renovation of Gene E. Huckstep Emergency Center/Level III Trauma Center: Another significant construction project for Saint Francis in 2009 is the tripling of space for the Gene E. Huckstep Emergency Center/Level III Trauma Center. The project is scheduled for completion in late spring 2010. Saint Francis is the only Level III Trauma Center in the region. The renovation will provide additional treatment areas and greater privacy for patients and families.

Recognition for Patient Safety and Satisfaction

Saint Francis is again ranked among the nation's top 10 percent for patient satisfaction, according to HealthGrades?, the nation's leading independent healthcare ratings organization. Saint Francis is the recipient of the HealthGrades 2009/2010 Outstanding Patient Experience Award? and is one of 12 Missouri hospitals in the top 10 percent.This is the second year Saint Francis has received the HealthGrades Outstanding Patient Experience Award.

Fitness Plus Earns National Recognition

Fitness Plus, a nationally award-winning, medically integrated fitness facility at Saint Francis, earned certification from the Medical Fitness Association (MFA) in July. Fitness Plus is the only fitness facility in Missouri and one of only seven facilities nationwide to receive certification.

da Vinci? Robotic Surgery

Saint Francis is now using robotics for procedures in three surgical specialties ? cardiology, gynecology and urology. The latest minimally invasive technology, the da Vinci? S HD? Surgical System, uses robotic technology to assist surgeons in taking minimally invasive surgery to a higher level.

Stroke Center Reaccredited

Saint Francis' Stroke Center has been reaccredited by The Joint Commission, a national honor awarded to top-notch stroke programs. This is the third time Saint Francis' Stroke Center has received The Joint Commission's Certificate of Distinction in Disease-Specific Care for Primary Stroke Treatment, which it first received in 2005. Accredited through 2011, Saint Francis also holds The Joint Commission's Gold Seal of Approval? for stroke care.

Information provided by Southeast Missouri Hospital and Saint Francis Medical Center.